The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-11-12
A Rich Indian.

a century ago that an American In
dian would build railroad he would
have been considered fit object for a
lunatic asylum. But to-day the peo'
pie of Newton county, Mo-, county !
adjoining the Indian Territory. have
witnessed scene such as man never
before beheld. Matthias Spitlog, a
half Cayuga and half Wyandotte In
dian, born in an Indian village in
Canada. at Neosho drove the first
spike for the Kansas City, Fort
Smith and Southern Railway. This
division of the Kansas City, Fort
Smith and Southern Railway was
chartered the 9Th of March last under
the laws of the State of Missouri,
with a capital of S3.000.000. and now
there are about 80 miles graded and
ready for the iron.
Mr.. Spitlog has.furnished the 'sin-
ews of war" out Of his own ample
fortune, and is backed by heavy cap
italists to complete the road. and be-
fore the 1st of next January he will
have the cars running from Joplin,
in Jasper county. to the town ofSDit-
log, in Mcdonald county. distance
of about thirty.five miles, and Ma
thias Spitlog, the millionaire Indian.
who is probably the richest man of
his race. will henceforth be known
all over the country as the only
Indian railroad man lat least the
first) in the United States or in the
whole world.
The occasion of driving the first
spike on the main line of this new
road was matter of more than ordi-
nary interest to the people of Neoshe.
There were about one thousand peo-
pie assembled at the point where the
main line crosses the Frisco track.
After music by the Indian band from
the Territory, and selections by the
Neoshe band, Mr.. Charles w. Smith,
Auditor of the construction company,
held the spike in position, and in
four bold strokes Mr.. Splitlog drove
the spike home into carefully Sc.
lected whiteOak tie. Cheer after cheer
was given for the road, Matthias Split
log, Neosho and the enterprise, after
,, which many came to the track to
look at the spike. Mr.. SplitIog
welded the sledge with familiarity
and precision which indicated that
he had used his sledge with good eff
feet when he built his steam boat on
the Detroit river.
Mr.. Splitlog was born in the year
1918 and while boy was apprenlic.
ed to carpenter and miIlwright,
and, although his wages were only
81 per month, young Splitlog thought
he was getting rich, He imbibed
love for machinery and inventions
which has made his life useful and
eventful one. In the year 1912 he
Joined the Wyandottes, who were
the last of the Indian tribes in Ohio.
In 1913 Splitlog came west with some
of the tribe, and, found after, his ar
rival at Westp0rt landing (now Kan
sas City,. that he only had so cents
in his pocket. He induced an old In.
dim to 60 his security for the price
of an axe. With this axe he cut
cordwood for the steamboats, at 25
cents per cord, and after paying for
the axe, which cost 50, he soon saved
enough to buy pony.
About the year 1864 he married
Eliza Barnett. a grandniece of Harry
jacques, the ole Indian who Went
his security for the price of the axe.
Her father was head chief of the
WyaDdottes when he died in 1888.
Her mother was part Wyandotte
and part Seneca Indian. They have
family of five chilGren-four sons
and one daughter. Splitlog was never
Idle, ana IN most OF his undertakings
he was successful. At an early day
he built mill near Wyandotte,
which was first run by horsepower
and afterwards by steam. Splitiog's
mill was success and was long an
old landmark near WyandOtte. He
began to speculate in real estate, and
although he can neither read nor
write, he has been one of the most
successful spectators in the neigh
horhood of Kansas City, and is to-
day worth over Sl,00O.00O. Many
interesting incidents could be writ
ten in connection with his useful life.
Tho UT ,Ufnpnct Crittaron nm To nth